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Ask HN: F1 student stuck in a CS-PhD program. How do I get a job?

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Ask HN: F1 student stuck in a CS-PhD program. How do I get a job?

#1

Post by frustrated_phd »

First the question: I am in a PhD program with F1 visa. If I leave the program - I will not have a valid visa to work in the USA. What are my options if I start failing my PhD program because I just can't take it anymore? Do I have to simply suck it up and deal with failure (or worse - do the PhD program!)

I am asking HN hoping somebody might have gone through a similar situation or has some idea on how to deal with such situations.

Some background: I have a Masters in Software Engineering with a background in NLP and skill sets of a novice DevOps. I don't suppose the tag of university would matter that much except for getting an interview.

However, I have a huge student loan debt from an Indian student loan company because of my Masters. I need to keep sending money back home (~1.3k) to pay the EMIs or my family house will go through foreclosure. There's no one else earning any money in my family.

Here's the best plan I came up with so far: Use the summer to develop my github profile to showcase what I can do: using libraries like Torch or some RNN, small apps (pizza ordering, anyone?), tools and techniques used in DevOps (pseudo-HOWTOs), contribute to open source code etc. Apply for any and all companies and pray to get a job offer.

But what do I say to the company about my visa status? Or what do I do for a living in the US? Tell them that I can't do my PhD so please give me a job and sponsor my H1B?

On the gloomy side of things: am I screwed? like, I leave the program => F1 expires => go back to India => no money => family house is gone => I am screwed by the debt.

Thoughts/suggestions?

Re: Ask HN: F1 student stuck in a CS-PhD program. How do I get a job?

#4

Post by sndean »

So you're making it sound like continuing in the PhD program isn't an option?

> start failing my PhD program because I just can't take it anymore?

I don't know how serious of issues you're having when you say "just can't take it anymore." If it's anything like what I experienced, it's not unusual. I wanted to quit really often (once per month?) for several years. And I actually did informally quit for a few months.

Sorry that I don't really have any advice. Just relaying my thoughts on "just can't take it anymore": every PhD student feels like that at some point.

Re: Ask HN: F1 student stuck in a CS-PhD program. How do I get a job?

#7

Post by frustrated_phd »

mrits wrote: post #6
frustrated_phd wrote: post #2

I guess this is it then... the end :'(

Your PhD program doesn't define you. Sometimes being around the same kind of people all the time makes you forget there is a lot more to life than computer science.

It was more of a _I give up_ kind of comment. The 5 years of the program will certainly define me to a large extent, if not completely.

Re: Ask HN: F1 student stuck in a CS-PhD program. How do I get a job?

#8

Post by frustrated_phd »

brudgers wrote: post #5

Is applying in a country where you're eligible to work an option?

I asked to a few friends in India and I am under the impression that it will be very much difficult if not impossible to earn required money. From whatever little understanding I have of Indian companies - it seems like startups tend to give you more equity while big companies give you long-term shares. None of them are useful for me as I need to make loan payments every month over $1.2k (=~ INR 70k).

Moreover, if I include living expenses, taxes, etc. it becomes nearly impossible to get this much high paying job in India (I might be wrong - been over 3 years since I was in India). Student loans really make you think twice before taking any risks in life.

Re: Ask HN: F1 student stuck in a CS-PhD program. How do I get a job?

#9

Post by frustrated_phd »

sndean wrote: post #4

So you're making it sound like continuing in the PhD program isn't an option? > start failing my PhD program because I just can't take it anymore? I don't know how serious of issues you're having when you say "just can't take it anymore." If it's anything like what I experienced, it's not unusual. I wanted to quit really often (once per month?) for several years. And I actually did informally quit for a few months. S…

I am aware of the "imposter syndrome" and other vagaries of academic life. I seek advice from colleagues, speak freely to my advisor and I am honest about how I feel about my current situation.

This is going on for about a year now, and I am afraid that one day I will just break down and give it all up. I understand what you're saying and to an extent it helps to know others have gone through similar situations. I am just looking for options and possibilities in case I give up the PhD program.

Re: Ask HN: F1 student stuck in a CS-PhD program. How do I get a job?

#10

Post by frustrated_phd »

nanis wrote: post #3

https://www.uscis.gov/eir/visa-guide/f-1-opt-optional-practi...

I have used up my previous F1-OPT (post completion) to do be a research assistant with my current advisor. I could do a pre-completion OPT but as per the website you linked me to:

"If the student chooses to engage in pre-completion OPT, he or she may not work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session, but may work full-time during his or her annual vacation and other times when the school is not in session."

So I can't go on doing a job on pre-completion OPT forever.

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